KDWP, WILD TURKEY FEDERATION TO CONDUCT JOINT RESEARCH

Through a cooperative agreement with the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), a three-year study is being conducted at Cedar Bluff, Lovewell, and Webster wildlife areas and surrounding private land. The study will focus on turkey movement and harvest on public and adjoining private lands to gain insight for future wild turkey management.

Several wild turkeys will be trapped and fitted with leg bands. Some of those birds will be equipped with radio transmitters to monitor harvest and survival. It will be important for hunters harvesting birds to report bands and/or transmitters to KDWP. Hunters may keep bands, but transmitters must be returned to KDWP.

In order to obtain necessary research information, free daily hunt permits will be required of hunters using these three wildlife areas this fall. Strategic locations around each property will supply permits and a place to return survey information after each day's hunt.

Prior to a hunt, hunters must pick up a permit, fill out the top portion, place it in the designated box, and carry the bottom portion of the permit with them while on the area hunting. When the hunt is finished, the bottom portion of the permit must be returned to the survey station with completed information on the day’s hunt. Hunter participation and cooperation is critical to the success of this study.

While this survey system is new to these properties, it has been used successfully for nearly a decade at other public hunting areas in Kansas to collect better wildlife management information. For more information, phone the KDWP Region 1 Office at 785-628-8614 or specific wildlife areas: Cedar Bluff at 785-726-3212, Lovewell at 785-753-4971, or Webster at 785-425-6775.